Data are total for reporting agencies. Population estimates by race are based on application of U.S. Census percentages of total population to the coverage population in which the arrests occurred. The racial categories and labels are as defined and used in the Uniform Crime Reports. Unfortunately separate data on arrests of Hispanics are not available.

The Uniform Crime Reports provides data on all drug arrests as well as data of arrests for drug possession and sales. Four categories are used to provide more specific data on arrests for different types of controlled substances: 1) Opium and Cocaine and their derivatives (such as Crack, Morphine, Heroin); 2) Marijuana; 3) Synthetic Narcotics - Manufactured Narcotics which can cause true drug addiction (such as Demerol, Methadone); 4) Other Dangerous Non-Narcotic Drugs (such as Barbiturates, Benzedrine, and Methamphetamine).